Monthly Archives: March 2014

It’s important to the nearly 2,600 businesses that the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce represents that policymakers make every effort to create a simplified tax code to promote equity, ease of administration, and increased compliance.

SB 1331 (model city tax code; changes) reinforces a 1988 policy that required cities wishing to impose a sales tax to adopt the Model City Tax Code (MCTC), along with the model and local option preference each city had. The Master Version of the MCTC was maintained by the League of Arizona’s Cities and Towns until 2012, when maintenance responsibility was transferred to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Arizona has an opportunity to keep building on the Arizona Comeback. We can continue to diversify our economy through strategic choices that help our state retain, expand and attract investment from industries with high wage jobs for Arizonans

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce strives to support pro-business tax policies and tax reform proposals that maximize the creation and retention of quality jobs and return on investment in the state while prioritizing job creation that facilitates economic growth.

Manufacturing is experiencing a comeback in the United States. Ensuring Arizona is a competitor for manufacturing facilities will further diversify our economy and provide new, higher wage jobs for Arizonans.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce supports Senate Bill 1181, which represents an industry consensus and reflects national best practices to handle claims against insolvent workers compensation carriers. It protects workers in a cost effective manner. Currently in Arizona, only workers compensation carriers are not covered by the Guaranty Fund. S.B. 1181 will ensure that workers compensation insurers are treated like other insurance carriers through a Guaranty Fund. In preparation for S.B. 1181, the Legislature passed S.B. 1310 which required the Industrial Commission to conduct an actuarial analysis of the revenues and liabilities with in Industrial Commission’s Special Fund. S.B. 1181 utilized this analysis transfer the appropriate level of funds to the Guaranty Fund to ensure proper claims administration.

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce strives to support pro-business tax policies and tax reform proposals that maximize the creation and retention of quality jobs and return on investment in the state while prioritizing job creation that facilitates economic growth.

Manufacturing is experiencing a comeback in the United States. Ensuring Arizona is a competitor for manufacturing facilities will further diversify our economy and provide new, higher wage jobs for Arizonans.

Proponents will say the question we are trying to answer is “Are these tax credits working?”

House Bill 2586 (corporate tax credits; annual reporting) won’t answer that question. If we want to do an analysis, let’s do that, but the information this bill will provide won’t come close to answering questions about the program’s effectiveness. It will create an incomplete picture of the programs and detract from the mission of these programs, and the economic benefits these companies provide to many working Arizonans.

This bill’s narrow objective risks painting an incomplete picture for the public. By seeking information on such a small slice of our state’s taxpayers and with such a narrow focus on these programs, there will be two certain outcomes:

PHOENIX – The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) thanks the Arizona State Senators who helped defeat Senate Bill 1310. We ask those who stood with us on opposing SB 1310 to continue to stand firm and oppose SB 1395 and SB 1396. These bills would hinder education improvements and create inconsistency across districts in Arizona. The GPCC will continue to work with educators and lawmakers as we implement an assessment to ensure that our education system outcomes align with the business community’s workforce needs. Visit the AZ Aims Higher website (www.azaimshigher.org) to show your support for higher standards across the state of Arizona.Continue reading →

The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s Phoenix Forum event this afternoon featured keynote speaker Michael Petrilli, executive vice president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. The luncheon, the product of a partnership between GPCC, Expect More Arizona and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, focused on the integral role the public education systems plays in Arizona’s economic future.

Petrilli, a national leading education expert, detailed the critical need for higher standards and a corresponding assessment for Arizona students, teachers and business owners.

“We set the standards too low—because we didn’t align the expectations of the public education system with the demands of the real world, we sent false signals for years that all was well, when in fact many students were not on track for success,” said Petrilli. “We lied to kids, to their families and to the taxpayers.”Continue reading →

Lawmakers, Business Community Should Work Together to Align Needs and Outcomes

PHOENIX – The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) thanks the Arizona Senators who helped defeat Senate Bill 1310 today. The GPCC hopes this support for the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards leads to greater cooperation between business, educators and lawmakers to align business workforce needs and educational outcomes in the future.

“The broad support for these standards from business, educators, teachers and parents highlights how important it is to have our students prepared for the jobs of the 21st century in Arizona,” said GPCC Vice President Chad Heinrich. “It is vital that our education system develops students with globally-competitive skills, so we can create and sustain the jobs our economy desperately needs.”

PHOENIX – On behalf of its more than 2,600 business members, The Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) opposes Senate Bill 1310 because of its negative impact on Arizona’s students, employers and economy. The bill, which would eliminate Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards (AZCCRS), would leave students less prepared to fill the jobs of the future, hindering the state’s competitiveness and economic growth.

“It is vital that our students are prepared for college or a career,” said GPCC Vice President, Chad Heinrich. “Arizona businesses need a qualified workforce, and eliminating the college and career standards that have been in place for the last four years would be a huge step backwards for our economy, our students and our citizens.”